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Kilmarnock v East Kilbride 18th September 2021
Ivor Frater19 Sep 2021 - 19:50
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From our worthy scribe Bill Barnaby
Kilmarnock v East Kilbride 18-09-2021 Match Report
Kilmarnock had only themselves to blame for a last minute defeat to visitors East Kilbride at Bellsland last Saturday. Kilmarnock 24 - - East Kilbride 25.
The bright sunny weather attracted a good crowd with a big travelling support from the visitors.
It was all Kilmarnock in the opening few minutes who enjoyed possession but could not break the stout EK defence. A penalty at the breakdown gave EK a penalty and the kick to touch saw the visitors in the Kilmarnock half for the first time. Jordan Duncan intercepted the visitors first backline move passing to prop forward Craig Shepherd who burst through but a poor pass gave the ball to the visitors.
The game progressed and after a thumping fair tackle by Kilmarnock’s Stuart McFadzean on EK full back Scott Swankie the handbags flew and EK were given a penalty. EK moved into the Kilmarnock 22 but the throw in was squint and from the scrum Kilmarnock advanced with runs from Sam Diamond.
EK countered and the first scoring opportunity arose in the third minute with a penalty converted by EK’s Scott Swankie. 3-0 to the visitors.
Kilmarnock won the ball at the restart and number eight Ross Murray broke up the blind side linking with Andrew Ferguson followed by a Robbie Colman characteristic sidestep feeding scrum half Josh Cooper, the ball was recycled from the ruck up the blind side and a penalty awarded to Kilmarnock. The tap and go was taken quickly and heavyweight hooker Stuart Docherty crashed over for the opening try, Josh Cooper converted to give Kilmarnock the lead 7-3 after 26 minutes.
Two minutes later EK missed a penalty from thirty metres and after Sam Diamond’s drop out kick was charged down, he recovered the ball and mounted an attack but his dropped pass saw EK kick and chase ahead with Josh Cooper returning the kick. EK kicked upfield and referee Paul Ellison misjudged as he gave a scrum to EK when the ball clearly was knocked on by Robbie Colman’s leg. Kilmarnock turned over possession and attacked through storming runs by Ross Murray followed by a kick ahead by Jordan Duncan knowing a penalty was on the offing.
Josh Cooper kicked the goal to increase the lead 10-3 after forty minutes.
From the restart kick Kilmarnock winger Chris Milligan fielded the ball but was injured as he crashed into the advancing EK forwards. Billy Jackson replaced him with Kilmarnock in possession for the remaining seven minutes of play. Half time 10-3.
Marco Castelli replaced Stuart Docherty and East Kilbride kicked off the second half. Kilmarnock were slow to get the ball and EK turned over possession made three advances towards the goal line and shipped the ball wide for a try in the right hand corner with a touchline conversion from Scott Swankie. Scoreline 10-10.
The sides exchanged control of the ball and after a penalty miss the visitors won a free kick as the home pack pushed too early. The EK forwards took a tap and go and from the maul their scrum half went over for a try converted by Swankie. EK ahead 17-10.
From the restart Robbie Colman was tackled and a penalty saw the home side move into opposition territory.
Ryan Andrews replaced Marco Castelli and Stuart Docherty replaced John Limond to bulk up the pack.
From the lineout Kilmarnock shipped the ball out to winger Blair Wilson who was held up and a scrum given to EK. The scrum was won and a kick upfield failed to find touch, Robbie Colman broke twenty five metres plus and Sean McCaffferty followed up and the ball was moved swiftly to winger Blair Wilson who rounded two defenders to score a well earned try.
Josh Cooper converted to tie the scores 17-17 midway through the half.
From the restart EK took possession for a number of plays until Kilmarnock replacement Adam Roy latched on to a ball and raced twenty five metres kicked upfield and was taken out of play which went unnoticed, the ball was taken by the EK defence and in the ruck Kilmarnock were penalised.
EK cleared from their goal line and from the lineout won another penalty and a further ten metres for back chatting. Kilmarnock paid the price as East Kilbride won the lineout, two more phases and their left winger crashed over in the right corner. Scott Swankie missed the conversion EK 22-17 ahead with ten minutes remaining.
Kilmarnock defaulted giving away another penalty at the restart and after an attack their try scoring winger was given a yellow card. Kilmarnock sought to make the man advantage tell but were hemmed in their own half until Ross Murray made an interception and stormed thirty metres upfield, Sam Diamond was the back up and he raced in from thirty yards to score to the delight of the home crowd to level the scores 22-22. From two metres in from touch scrum half Josh Cooper converted to give Kilmarnock the lead 24-22. There was one minute left to play.
EK restarted the ball was taken by Kilmarnock, they tried to move the ball out the backline but the ball was passed direct into touch, EK were awarded a scrum in midfield. The EK number eight picked up from the base of the scrum and from the ruck were awarded a penalty.
Scott Swankie converted from in front of the posts with the last kick of the game. EK winners 25-24.
“ Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory”
Kilmarnock’s captain and coaches were not speechless at the end of the customary match huddle.
There are lessons to be learned in decision making, discipline and how to close out a game.
The attitude of the team was right and it was a much improved performance from the previous week’s loss. Next Saturday Kilmarnock travel to Cambuslang in search of a bonus point win.
Bill Barnaby
Kilmarnock had only themselves to blame for a last minute defeat to visitors East Kilbride at Bellsland last Saturday. Kilmarnock 24 - - East Kilbride 25.
The bright sunny weather attracted a good crowd with a big travelling support from the visitors.
It was all Kilmarnock in the opening few minutes who enjoyed possession but could not break the stout EK defence. A penalty at the breakdown gave EK a penalty and the kick to touch saw the visitors in the Kilmarnock half for the first time. Jordan Duncan intercepted the visitors first backline move passing to prop forward Craig Shepherd who burst through but a poor pass gave the ball to the visitors.
The game progressed and after a thumping fair tackle by Kilmarnock’s Stuart McFadzean on EK full back Scott Swankie the handbags flew and EK were given a penalty. EK moved into the Kilmarnock 22 but the throw in was squint and from the scrum Kilmarnock advanced with runs from Sam Diamond.
EK countered and the first scoring opportunity arose in the third minute with a penalty converted by EK’s Scott Swankie. 3-0 to the visitors.
Kilmarnock won the ball at the restart and number eight Ross Murray broke up the blind side linking with Andrew Ferguson followed by a Robbie Colman characteristic sidestep feeding scrum half Josh Cooper, the ball was recycled from the ruck up the blind side and a penalty awarded to Kilmarnock. The tap and go was taken quickly and heavyweight hooker Stuart Docherty crashed over for the opening try, Josh Cooper converted to give Kilmarnock the lead 7-3 after 26 minutes.
Two minutes later EK missed a penalty from thirty metres and after Sam Diamond’s drop out kick was charged down, he recovered the ball and mounted an attack but his dropped pass saw EK kick and chase ahead with Josh Cooper returning the kick. EK kicked upfield and referee Paul Ellison misjudged as he gave a scrum to EK when the ball clearly was knocked on by Robbie Colman’s leg. Kilmarnock turned over possession and attacked through storming runs by Ross Murray followed by a kick ahead by Jordan Duncan knowing a penalty was on the offing.
Josh Cooper kicked the goal to increase the lead 10-3 after forty minutes.
From the restart kick Kilmarnock winger Chris Milligan fielded the ball but was injured as he crashed into the advancing EK forwards. Billy Jackson replaced him with Kilmarnock in possession for the remaining seven minutes of play. Half time 10-3.
Marco Castelli replaced Stuart Docherty and East Kilbride kicked off the second half. Kilmarnock were slow to get the ball and EK turned over possession made three advances towards the goal line and shipped the ball wide for a try in the right hand corner with a touchline conversion from Scott Swankie. Scoreline 10-10.
The sides exchanged control of the ball and after a penalty miss the visitors won a free kick as the home pack pushed too early. The EK forwards took a tap and go and from the maul their scrum half went over for a try converted by Swankie. EK ahead 17-10.
From the restart Robbie Colman was tackled and a penalty saw the home side move into opposition territory.
Ryan Andrews replaced Marco Castelli and Stuart Docherty replaced John Limond to bulk up the pack.
From the lineout Kilmarnock shipped the ball out to winger Blair Wilson who was held up and a scrum given to EK. The scrum was won and a kick upfield failed to find touch, Robbie Colman broke twenty five metres plus and Sean McCaffferty followed up and the ball was moved swiftly to winger Blair Wilson who rounded two defenders to score a well earned try.
Josh Cooper converted to tie the scores 17-17 midway through the half.
From the restart EK took possession for a number of plays until Kilmarnock replacement Adam Roy latched on to a ball and raced twenty five metres kicked upfield and was taken out of play which went unnoticed, the ball was taken by the EK defence and in the ruck Kilmarnock were penalised.
EK cleared from their goal line and from the lineout won another penalty and a further ten metres for back chatting. Kilmarnock paid the price as East Kilbride won the lineout, two more phases and their left winger crashed over in the right corner. Scott Swankie missed the conversion EK 22-17 ahead with ten minutes remaining.
Kilmarnock defaulted giving away another penalty at the restart and after an attack their try scoring winger was given a yellow card. Kilmarnock sought to make the man advantage tell but were hemmed in their own half until Ross Murray made an interception and stormed thirty metres upfield, Sam Diamond was the back up and he raced in from thirty yards to score to the delight of the home crowd to level the scores 22-22. From two metres in from touch scrum half Josh Cooper converted to give Kilmarnock the lead 24-22. There was one minute left to play.
EK restarted the ball was taken by Kilmarnock, they tried to move the ball out the backline but the ball was passed direct into touch, EK were awarded a scrum in midfield. The EK number eight picked up from the base of the scrum and from the ruck were awarded a penalty.
Scott Swankie converted from in front of the posts with the last kick of the game. EK winners 25-24.
“ Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory”
Kilmarnock’s captain and coaches were not speechless at the end of the customary match huddle.
There are lessons to be learned in decision making, discipline and how to close out a game.
The attitude of the team was right and it was a much improved performance from the previous week’s loss. Next Saturday Kilmarnock travel to Cambuslang in search of a bonus point win.
Bill Barnaby
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